Cynar: Cocktails, Collectibles and History

Cynar is a popular Italian bitter liquer, enjoyed both straight and in delicious cocktails.

Travel to Italy and you're sure to see Cynar behind most bar counters, along with other popular Italian bitter liquers. But have you ever tried Cynar for yourself? It's becoming increasingly popular with bartenders around the world and with cocktail enthusiasts looking for a new taste.

Cynar is made from a blend of thirteen different herbs and plants, with the most predominant being artichoke. Yes, that's right, it's an alcoholic drink made from artichokes! But don't let that deter you; if you enjoy herbal liquers that are unique and great for before or after-dinner drinking, then check out some of the Cynar cocktail recipes linked below. I've also included unique merchandise and collectibles related to Cynar perfect for Italian cocktail enthusiasts and collectors.

About Cynar

Cynar was first introduced onto the market in 1952, and is part of the Italian family of alcoholic beverages known as Amaro. Amaro is Italian for "bitter", and so these are all herbal liquers with a bitter flavor, typically enjoyed as an after-dinner "digestif".

Cynar is at the low range of alcohol content for an Amaro, only 16.5%, making it easy to drink even straight with its bittersweet flavor. It is made from a blend of 13 different herbs and plants, with the predominant one being the artichoke—hence its name (artichoke = Cynara scolymus) and distinctive label.

Cynar is especially popular in Italy, Brazil and Switzerland. However American bartenders and mixologists are increasingly discovering the delights of using Cynar in lots of different cocktail preparations.

Of course, you don't have to be an expert bartender to enjoy Cynar yourself. If it's too strong for you to drink straight, try mixing it simply with some sparkling water or club soda; it's a refreshing alternative to cola and similar in taste (to me) to a strong iced tea. In Switzerland and Germany, orange juice and Cynar is a common combination. You can also try it instead of Campari in classic cocktails like the Negroni or the Spritz.

Enjoyed either before or after dinner, Cynar is a lovely liquer and one all cocktail enthusiasts should be sure to give a try.

Cynar Cocktail Recipes

Want to try mixing with Cynar at home? Here are some creative and classic Cynar cocktail recipes

Just like the bitter greens that start showing up at greenmarkets this time of year, Cynar is a delicious palate refresher. Although it's often consumed alone or with a splash of soda, it can also make cocktails much more interesting. Here are three